The ultimate victims will be NAR and MLS's, who either sold out, or were too quick to syndicate/give away their listings.   Who will need NAR, or for that matter the local MLS, when National Syndication / listing of real estate on the internet becomes the norm? 

That will reduce the number of companies for agents to bash in their blogs.

This merger will be a constant reminder that the keys to the real estate industry have been freely given away to those will prey upon agents and brokers.

Noah,

Neither, all you have to do is continuing to do what you do best.  They are not an enemy...and there are ways to handle the whole thing.  A behemoth cannot move at the speed of small business...I would have more concerns, if you wanted to worry about something about Realtor.com.  They have bigger pockets and more savvy.  A

Furthermore, that may be why they keep AR going. AR has a huge number of real estate professionals but they want more. I would think they would like to have a million. Remember they can use the database to market to us. We are seeing the ads already. I get calls from Trulia all the time too. Expect more surveys to come through AR as well. Remember Trulia will present themselves as the real estate agents friend.

Good evening Noah, Do you see me jumping?  I don't see me jumping either!.

As long as we spread the information that neither of these companies provide accurate information, and the public understands, could care less. 

It makes me want to throw up...thank you very much. I'm so over those two sites.

Built it like the ark from your end of the world Noah Seidenberg .  The merger of any letters of the alphabet is not so Earth shattering when you do your own home grown, tasty organic SEO to find more buyers, land more listings. Build your own channel and save beacoup money with control over where it does the most good for you! Be the captain of your ship.

I hope it will help us and our blog.

Neither, I expected it - hoped for the best, expected the worst.  But no worries, right?  They're just media companies, after all that's what the press releases say.  Wait...I just saw a commercial that brands them as real estate companies.  I'm confused...

Neither.  What will happen will happen.  We have learned enough things from each other to carry on, no matter what.

Neither. I fully expected it the moment I heard it months ago. I was told by our MLS liason that Zillow will focus on the consumer and Trulia on the agent and people in the real estate industry. That way they keep both brands and dominate the market on both ends.

I just got an email from Zillow this week with a script on how to explain to consumers why their numbers are so far off.  Hillarious! 

One of the real estate news feeds that finds its way into my inbox is already recommending that you use Zillow as your IDX and just make people register so you can call them before they move on to Zillow.

Not saying I agree, just saying that I see people in the industry already coming up with coping mechanisms for the reality that Z will control the flow of info.

Noah -- interesting question.  Actually, neither.   Call me delusional but I have other issues that are of concern.  

Can I block the merger?  No.   Will it impact my business?  Maybe?   Can I still do business?  Definitely.  Will things change?  Yes -- always have, always will.

I just read the same and I can tell I am NOT jumping for joy. Anytime so much "power" is concentrated in a few hands it's a problem.

Noah Seidenberg they have  their business model - and are successful at what they do! 

In long run, this will be very beneficial to ActiveRain, I think.

Noah, I read the report on Z + T merger approval today. I think, we need to wait and see the result.

Throw up....I am glad I have been working at a different blog site to switch to.  I feel we have been sold out.

You just told me something i didnt know.  I thought trulia was buying zillow but its opposite..  its been hush hush with them. We will see how it turns out.  

Strangely indifferent.  

Zillow is the purchaser, a dominant position on paper...

One question is WHO IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE? There is a distinct difference in mangement styles and one could lead to disaster.

Neither, I dont let z affact my business

I don't have any opinion on them.

just one more hurdle for us to jump over....  It does feel like someone is always trying to dip into our pockets.  I also have a huge feeling of disappointment in NAR and other entitites that are suppose to help protect us and our profession.  

Beware the Trojan Horse...time will tell how it will affect the real estate industry.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, one buyer at a time, one seller at a time...may the force be with us all!

According to news reports, the acquisition is scheduled to close tomorrow.

Isn't it great that all the organizations that we belong to and pay our dues to have sold our sorry butts down the road. Isn't it great that our MLS's provide all this information that we spend a lot of time and money to obtain and try and sell it back to us as "Hot Leads In Your Zipcode"...unbelievable and pathetic, will I roll with the punches, of course, I am use to it. Do I like no, it makes me want to throw up.

Al

Neither. But maybe we'll one get one barrage of emails/calls instead of from both now.

Noah, I knew a very successful businessman who owned a car dealership that flourished. His wife was greedy however and when the dealership down the road failed, she convinced him to buy it. He did and a year down the road both dealerships went under. They went way too big and could not service both entities properly and lost the consumer's confidence. Who knows what will happen with the merger...they both will still be inaccurate and depend on real estate agents to support them.

The real wonder is how will the public react?

No jumping on my end.  Not so happy that we also ended up selling our rights at realtor.com.  Nice that we have the guys up top looking out for us, right?

The CEO of Zillow on a CBS morning show described Zillow and Trulia as ADVERTISING companies therefore beyond the reach of the SEC. He was right.

Are you aware of all the real estate related brands Zillow and Trulia own? Of course you don't.  More than half of the participants on AR believe nothing bad should be exposed about a vendor. Take care that you don't hitch your wagon to one of these.

China, North Korea, Russia, Cuba every Muslim country has proven if you control the information you control the population. Zillow will be in full CONTROL of information regarding real estate that the public has access to.

You would have to have your head buried deep to NOT see the repercussions.